Machine for assembling upholstery springs



M114; 1947# s. FRANKEL.Y Y2,414,372

w MACHINE FOR ASSEIIBLING UPHOLSTERY SPRINGS v Filed Oct. 7,. 1944 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Tron/25 Jan. 14, 1947. s. FRANKEL 2,414,372

MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING UPHOLSTERY SPRINGS med om. 7. 1944 a sheets-sheet 2 A T TORNEKS Jan. 14, 1947. s. FRAIYQKEL MACHINE FOR ASSEMBIIING UPHOLSTERY SPRINGS Arromfrs.

Jan. 14, 1947.

-.s. FRANKEL MACHIE FOR ASSEMBLING UPHOLSTERY SPRINGS 8 Sheets-Shee't 4 100 5o g8 5* 245 H r o 244240 R 4 7 64 19a .a5 I, 3 76 l 68 711.62

14 14a o o @6g 6a Y I 145 we u .14e 1z0 e 101 1.2

INVENTOR.

Arron/Ys s'. FRANKEL 2,414,372

MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING UPHOLSTERY SPRINGS Filed Oct. '7,y 1944 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENToR.

Jim 14, 1947. s. FRANKEL I l 2,414,372

4mwah/Toll VSM Ml Jan. 14, 1947. s. FRANKEL '2,414,312

MACHINE FORr ASSEMBLING UPHOLSTERY SPRINGS 'Filed Uct. 7,. 1944 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 ggf? 5- -265 IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEY;

Jan. 14, 1947. s. FRAN KEL 2,414,372

MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING UPHOLSTERY SPRINGS Filed oct. 7, 1944 a sheets-sheet e IN VEN TOR.

BYSM

A TTORNEYS.

Patented Jan. 14, 1947 MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING UPHOLSTERY SPRINGS Sydney Frankel, New York, N. Y., assignor to Murray J. Rymland, Baltimore, Md.

Application October 7, 1944, Serial No. 557,673

* (Cl. 14o-3) 28 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for fabrieating spring assemblies such as those used in mattresses, upholstery and the like. More particularly it relates to4 a machine for assembling preformed coil spring elements into completed or semi-completed spring assemblies, its specific' function being to unite upholstery coil springs to one another by means of helical tie wires.

The object of the invention is to provide an irnproved machine of the type specified which is simple and efficient in construction and operation, requiring minimum space and power, capable of being operated by unskilled labor and of `producing a uniform product. It is a`further object to provide such a machine which can be adjusted for operation on upholstery springs ofvvarying sizes.

The invention resides in the novel devices, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and dened in the claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan View of the machine longitudinally condensed, some parts being shown in section and certain details being omitted;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation similar to Fig, 1 as seen from the bottom of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section through the upper part of the machine taken on the line 3oz- 31u of Fig. 2;

Figs. 3a and 3b are respectively an elevation Aand a top View of certain details of the spring adand rear elevations of the spring positioning and clamping jaws together with sections of their supporting and operating shafts;

Fig. 13 is a section taken on the line l3nt-43a of Fig. 1, showing the mechanism for connecting the rotating shaft to cause their simultaneous rotation in opposite directions and associated parts;

Fig. 14 is a front elevation of part of the jaws showing segments of two spring end coils in psition and a section of helical tie-wire surrounding them;

Fig. 15 isa plan View of the switch actuating mechanism associated with the operating handle;

Fig. 16 is a projection of part of the structure shown in Fig. 15 taken on the line IBr-I 6x thereof;

Fig. 17 is a view similar to Fig. 15 showing the parts in a different position; and

Fig. 18 is an elevation of the principal parts of the tie-wire feeding mechanism taken on the line l8r-|81: of Figs. 1 and 2.

The first parts of the machine to be described will be the spring clampingand positioning jaws which may best be seen in Figs. 3, 10, 11, 12 and 114. These jaws function to clamp segments of the end coils of upholstery springs S in the prop er position for encirclement by helical tie-wires which are fed through the jaws to join the end ceils together. The other major parts of the ma- 4 chine serve to support these jaws, to open and close them, to direct the springs into them, to transport them away from the jaws after they have been joined and to feed the tie-wires through them, all in properly timed sequence.

Referring rst to Figs. 10, 11 and l2, the jaws are constructed as follows: Each pair of jaws consists of an upper jaw member 30 and a lower jaw member 3|'. These two parts may be castings, the upper jaw member preferably being drilled to receive an upper supporting shaft 32 along which it can slide and to which it may be fixed in any desired position by set screws 34. In its lower part, it is similarly drilled to freely receive a rotatable shaft 35. The lower part of the upper jaw member 30 is bifurcated to form the two depending legs 36 and 38,(Fig. 12) between which the lower jaw 3| is mounted on the shaft` 35. This shaft is provided with a keyway 39 and the lower jaw members 3| are keyed thereto by short keys 40 which are held in place between legs 36 and 38. To permit insertion of these keys, at least one of the legs 36 or 38 is provided with an opening as shown at 4| (Fig. 11) through which the key may be insertedwhen the keyways in shaft 35 and lower jaw 3| are lined up with it. This slot 4| is in such a 'position that during the operation of the machine it is beyond the range of rotation of the key 40. It will thus be seen that rotation of the shaft 35 will carry with it the lower jaw 3| moving it toward or away from the upper jaw 30. The shafts 32 and 35 hold the l upper jaw inv a fixed position.

'HIhe castings of the jaw members 30 and 3| are drilled out as shown at 42 (Fig. l1) to receive two spring gripping elements 44 and 45 secured in their respective supporting castings by bolts 46 and 48.

The elements 44 and 45 are given a particular internal configuration to bring about the desired ythis passage the elements are provided with a spirall groove 50 through which the tie-wire passes. Referring to Fig. 14, the elements 44 and 45 are further cut away at their front `edges along arcuate lines generally corresponding to the average curvature of the end-coils of the coil springs to be assembled so that the end-coils may` be inserted'between the Jaws when the latter are only slightly open. As may be seenf'from-Figs.

11 and 14, the lower element 45 is cut back somewhat beyond its center line, the cut terminating in a shoulder 5| so as to position an end-coil, such as 52, behind the center of the passage 49 as shown in' dotted lines in Fig. 11. The upper element 44 is cut back to provide a shoulder 54,

the face of which is about on the center line of the opening 49 so that an end-coil, suchas 55, will be positioned on top of and overlapping the end coil 52.

Thus when a pair of end-coils are gripped between the jaws and the jaws are closed tightly,

' the-lowermost coil 52 will be gripped between the top of the passage 49 and the arcuate jaw'faces adjacent the shoulders 5|; and the upper coil 55 will be similarly gripped between the bottom of the opening 49 and the arcuate faces of the upper element 44 adjacent the shoulders 54. This .clamping action on the end-coils will eliminate possible irregularities in their curvature and will position them accurately for encirclement by the helical tie-wire 56 asit passes through the'spiral groove 50.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 2 and 4, the jaws just described are supported in the machine as follows: The framework of the machine comprises vertical channel members 58 and 59 at one end of the machine and similar channel members 60 and 6| at the other end of the machine. The channel members on each side are connected at the bottom to angle irons 62 which may be secured to the floor or other support. The channelvmembers 58 vand 60 at opposite ends of the machine are joined by suitable horizontal tie-rods such as rods 64, 65, 66 and the channel members 59 and 6| are joined by suitable tie-rods 68, 69 and 10. The tie-rods have threaded, shouldered ends, pass through the channel members and are heldby nuts.

As may be seen from Figs. 4 and 5, the channel member 58 is shorter than the channel member 59 and terminates in'a flat upper surface 1I adjacent which there is attached to it a recessed block 12. Slidably mounted on the surface 1| and on the shoulder 14 of block 12 is a vertical `plate 15. This plate is held in place by the nut 16 which is threaded on the end of shaft 64, the latter having a shoulder 18 which bears against the block 12 so that tightening nut 16 clamps plate in place. At the opposite end of the machine a plate 11 (Figs. 1 and 3) is mounted for sliding movement on the top of channel member 60 in the same manner, a recessed block 12 being secured to the channel member to -support it.

As best shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the right-hand pair of jaw-supporting shafts 32 and35 are seelement.

machine so as to be oppositely` disposed for clamping the end-coils at opposite ends of a coil spring S. There are two sets of jaws for each coil spring For example, if a spring assembly is to bev made up ci rows each containing l0 coils, there will be |0- sets of jaws on each side of the machine.

Aswill more fully appear in the description of the operation, the individual coil springs are manually placed in the machine and are pushed downwardly between the opposed sloping faces of the jaw elements 30. To direct the end coils into the jaws, spring guiding members are provided which are adjustable to adapt the machine to springs having different sizes of end-coils. guides will now be described.

Referring to Figs. 7, 8 and 9, a casting 80 is provided with anv opening having a sliding t on the shaft y32 on which it can be xed by set-screws 83. At right angles to this opening the casting is drilled longitudinally to receive a pin 8|. 'This pin extends outwardly from' the casting 80 and supports a pair of Wings. 82 and.

32 and '35, is a smaller shaft 90 which passes cured in suitable bearings mounted in the channel members 59 and 6| and the left-hand pair of shafts 32 and 35 are similarly mounted in the channel 60 andYthe plate 15. The shafts 32 are xed but it will be noted that the shafts 35 through the slots 86 and through holes drilled in the upper jaw member 30 in which it is supported, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11. Surrounding the shaft 90, between the wings 82 and `84, are blocks` 9| provided with threaded studs 92 to receive wing nuts 94. On these studs are secured plates having converging diagonal slotsl 95 extending upwardly from their lower edges and vertical slots 98 permitting a vertical movement of the plates over the studs 92. The diagonal slots 96 receive the studs 89, and it will be seen that, by vertical movement of the plates 95, the wings 82 and 84 may be forced apart or drawn together and secured in the desired position by tightening the wing nut 94. When springs having the largest size of end-coils are used, the wings 82 and 84 will be close together as shown in Fig. 8. When springs having smaller end coils are used, the wings may be separated by raising the plates 95 so as to center the coils in the jaws.

Referring to Fig. 4, the mechanism for rotating the shafts 35 to openand close the jaws comprises a hand lever |00 at the top of the machine and a foot treadle |0| at the bottom .of the machine together with associated mecha- These side of the block. The handle is keyed to one end of the shaft and a sprocket |06 (see Fig. l) is keyed to the shaft on the other side of the block |02. This sprocket drives a chain |09 which in turn drives a sprocket 0 keyed to the shaft 35 on the left side of Fig. 13. Fixed to the same shaft 35 adjacent the sprocket ||0 is a gear which meshes with a gear ||2 which rotates freely on shaft |06. Secured to this gear as by bolts ||3, and also free to rotate on shaft |01, is a sprocket ||4 driving a chain ||5 which in turn drives a sprocket ||6 on the shaft A35 on the right in Fig. 1.3. With this shaft coupling and driving arrangement movement of the handle |00 will rotate the two shafts 35 at the same speed and simultaneously in opposite directions, the movements of the several parts being shown by arrows.`

Referring `to Figs. 1 and 4, the foot treadle |0|, which extends across the front of the machine, is secured at either end to side bars ||8 and ||9 which are pivoted at the rear of the machine on a shaft |20 which is mounted in brackets |2| secured to the channel members 58 and 60. The foot treadle is normally urged upwardly by means of counter-weights |22 and |23 secured to extensions of the side bars, or by springs which may be substituted therefor (not shown), and is adapted to be held in its lowermost position by pawls |24 fixedon a shaft |25 which extends across the frontof the machine and is secured to the channel members 59 and 6I by brackets |26 (see Fig. 2). Each pawl is provided with a lever arm |28 carrying an adjustable stop |29 which bears against a release lever |30 fixed on shaft |3| which is adapted to be rotated by a release pedal |32. Springs |33 (Fig.

1) urge the pawls |24 toward the treadle.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 4, mounted in brackets at+ached to channel members 58 and 59 is a reciprocating actuating member |4I., the bottom of which is adjustably attached to a rack |42 which is supported by a thrust roller |44 and meshes with a gear segment |45 attached to the side bar ||8.

To the top of the actuating member |4| is secured a cross bar |45 which carries at either end the yQkes |46 and |48, the latter being adjustably mounted by bolts |49. Referring additionally to Fig. 6, each yoke carries pins |50 which are extended into bearings in the base |5| of a tubular link |52. This link is threadedinternally to receive threaded adjusting studs |54, secured byv lock nuts |55. Each link is longitudinally slotted at |56 to receive the crank pin 19 of crank 18 attached to a shaft 35.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that when the actuator |4l is reciprocated bv treadle |0|, the crank pin 19 will be engaged by the lowermost stud 54 at the 4end of the upward stroke and by the uppermost stud |54 at the end of the downward stroke. As is now apparent. this willv onen and close `the jaws 30 and 3|. The length of the stroke of member |4I being fixed as desired bv the adjustments provided. the studs |54 serve to adiust tbe amount by which the laws may be opened and closed by means of the foot treadle. Assuming that the'hfull depression of 4 treadle |0| does not rotatethe cranks 18 suf'- V ciently to fully close the jaws, it will be seen that they can nevertheless be fully closed by hand lever |00 rotating the shafts 35 through the chains |09. and ||5,` as the crank pins 19 are free to move downward in the slots |56 in the pivoted links |52.

The mechanism for moving the coil. springs downwardly away from the jaws after they have been joined by helical tie-wires, is likewiseoperated by the foot treadle |0| and is constructed as follows:

Referring to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, there is mounted underneath each pair of jaws a tubular guide |60 which is supported by brackets |6| or |62 slidably mounted on the pairs of horizontal shafts 6 5 and 66 or 68 and 69. Sliding in the guides |60 are reciprocating members '|64 having hooks |65 attheir upper ends adapted to engage the end coils of springs suspended from the jaws (as shown in dotted lines in Fig. '3) upon being elevated. The lower ends of the members |64 are slottedas shown at |66 to receive the cross members |68 which extend through slots |69 and |10 in the channel members 58 and 59 at the left end of the machine and through'similar slots in the channel members 60 and 6| at the other end. The bars |68 are connected at their ends to cross bars |1|, one of which is fixed to the actuating member I4| and the other of which is connected to a similar but4 shorter actuating member |12, at the right side of the machine as shown in Fig. 2.

Referring to Figs. 3a and 3b, the position of the hooks |65 on the reciprocating members |64 is preferably made adjustable so that the position of the hooks at their maximum elevation can be changed to take care of springs having end-coils of varying diameter. This may be done, as shown, bymaking the member |64 from tubing which is internally threaded in its upper portion as shown at |14 and'by attaching the hook |65 to a separate short piece of tubing |15 similarly threaded as at |16. These two threads.

Y |65 may be secured to the side of the sections of tubing |15 by welds |85 and the bracket-s, such as |52, may be welded to guides |60 as shown at |85. The hook-carrying tube |15 maybe provided, if desired, with a hole |86, at right angle to the plane of the hook, through which Va rod |88 may be passed, joining all of the tubes |15 on one side of the machine together. This will aid in keeping the hooks in alinement and will strengthen the structure.

As may be seen from Figs. 3 and Las the foot treadle |0| rises, tlie hooks |65 will be elevated to the dotted line positions of Fig. 3 and into engagement with the end-coils of the springs S depending from the jaws, During the uppermost portion of the stroke, the lower studs |54 of the links |51 will engage the crank pins 159 and rotate the shafts 35 to Vopen the jaws fully 'to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3. Shafts 35 are rotated about 60 degrees to fully open the jaws. On the downward stroke the hooksV |65 will draw the row of springs downwardly. When the upper studs |54 engage the crank pins 19, the jaws will begin to close and at the end `of the stroke of the foot treadle they will be just* sufficiently open to allow insertion Aof another set of springs into the jaws, for example the shafts 35 will.be within about 5 degrees of the fully closed position. The full-line position of the hook |65 in Fig. 3 is an intermediate position., the full vtrated in Figs. 1 and 2, mechanism is provided lpivoted to the support at 2||, which passes travel of lthe hooks corresponding to the diameter cf the end-coils of the springs being assembled,

so as to draw down a spring which has the lower sides of its end-coils in the Jaws to a position where the upper sides of its end-coils are in the 5 jaws. It will be drawn down, of course because it is coupled to the spring engaged by the hooks by helical tie-wires.

The machine is arranged so that the horizontal distance between the row of jaws on one side of the machine and vthe row of jaws on the other side may be adjusted. As may be seen in Figs. 3 and 4, the horizontal tie-rods 65 and 66 are mounted in slots 65 and 66' in the channel members 58 and 60 so that they may be ilxed at dier- 15 ent distances from the center of the machine,

carrying with them the tubular guides |50 which are mounted on them. The slot |69 in channel member 58 is also wide enough to permit shift- `ing of the bar |60, which passes throughit; to

different positions on the cross bar on which it may be adjusted by means of shims |09 which can be placed onone side or the other of the bar |68. The plates 15 and 11 carrying the shafts 32 and35 can be shifted along the tops of the 25.

channel members on which they rest by reason of the slots |90 and I9| through which the ends of rods 64 pass. The yoke |48 may be adjusted, together with the other parts just mentioned, by loosening the bolts |49 so that the link |52 car- 30 rieclk by the yoke may be moved with its associated crank '|8.` By adjusting these parts it is therefore possible to adjust the space between opposing sets of jaws to accommodate springs of different lengths or to change the tension under` which the springs are placed when they are in the jaws.

It will be appreciated that in moving the shaft 35 which is carried by the plates 15 and 11 provision must be made for lengthening and short- 40 ening the chain 5 which drives the sprocket ||6 attached to that shaft. As shown in Fig'. 13, this is accomplished by aillxing to the shaft 32 which is carriedby plate 15 a block |92 carrying a bearing member |94 having a rounded surface 45 over which thev chain slides. When the plate 15 is moved to the right to its full extent chain I5 will bevtaut and as it is moved to the left the member |94 will press against the chain and take up the slack. The member |94 may beadjustably 50 mounted on the block |92. To synchronize the rotation 'of the two shafts 35 when the parts of the machine are shifted as above described, so that the jaws on each side of the machine will close simultaneously` and completely, gear may beshifted vas'necessary on its shaft, to which itis secured by a set screw |95.

At the righthand side of the machine as illusfor feeding the helical tie`wires-5|i into lthe machine and through the jaws to encircle the adjacent segments ofthe end coils of coil springs S.

`Referring to Fig. 18, showing the essential parts of this mechanism as it relates to this invention, it comprises a support 200 carrying two fixed driving rollers 20 I. Pivoted on thesupport at 202 Ais an arm 204 carrying a third roller 205 which,

upon movement of the arm 204, is moved toward or away from the rollers 20 From the bottom of support .200 there extends a bracket 206 to the end of which is pivoted, at 208, an adjustable arm 209. The distance of this arm from the support 200 is adjusted by means of threaded shaft 2|0,

through an opening in the arm 209 and carries the threaded nuts 2|2 and 2 I3 betweenwhich the arm 209 may be secured in any desired position. Pivoted to the arm 209 at 2|! isan arm 2|0. Like the support 200, the arm 209 carries a pair 0f driving rollers 20| and the arm 2|0, like the arm 204, carries a third roller 205. The rollers 20| and 205 are all adapted to be rotated simultaneously in the same direction by any suitable means (not shown), driven through a pulley 2 (Fig. 2), so as to rotate and advance the helical tie-wires 56 when they are gripped between the rollers by movement of the rollers 205 toward the fixed rollers 20|. 'I'his type of tie-wire feeding mechanism. as thus .far described,` does not per se form part oi' the present invention and is well known in the art. It will be understood that ithe rollers are lso groovedvas to feed the tie-wires axially at a rate corresponding to their pitch. That is, for each revolution they move linearly the distance between the turns of thehelix.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that simultaneous movement of the arms 204 and 2|0 toward the support 200 will bring .the rollers 205 into driving lengagement with the tie-wires 50, pressing them against the rollers 20|, and that movement of the arms 204 and 2|0 in the opposite direction will disengage this driving mechanism fromthe tie-wires. Referring to Figs. 1 and 18, these operations are performed by means of a solenoid 220 of the push type whose armature 22| is connected to a shaft 222. This shaft passes f reely through a bushing 224 pivotally supported in a yoke 225 at the top of arm 2|0. 'I'he bushing 224 is positioned on shaft 222 between a fixed collar 226 and a spring 220 which bears aaginst a xed collar 229. Thus the pressure exerted b1' solenoid 220 is applied to the arm 2|0 through the spring 220. The shaft 222 terminates inand short of the bottom of a socket 230 at the top of arm 204 adjacent which it is `surrounded by a spring 23| held in place between a collar'232 and washer 233 so that movement of the shaft 222 is likewise applied to the arm 204 .through a spring. A short shaft 234 extends from a socket 235, opposite the socket 230, through an opening in the top of support 200 and is urged away from the support by a, spring 236 held in placeby a collar 230. When the solenoid 220 is deenergized, the spring 236 moves the arms 204 and ZIB to the position they occupy prior to energization of the solenoid, in which position the rollers 205 are out of driving engagement with the tie-wires 5B. The

support 200 is fastened to the channel member 0| and the solenoid is mounted on a bracket 239 fastened to channel member 60.

Means,` about to be described, are provided for automatically energizing the solenoid 220 at the instant when the jaws 30 and 3| are completely closed by means of the handle |00, so that the tie-wires, which have previously been inserted between the rollers 20| and 205, are fed through the machine. Referring to Figs. l, 2 and 4, a

bracket 240 is mounted on studs 24| which extendl outwardly a short distance from the channel member l59 and the -block |02 which is affixed to it. On the plate 240 and facing the machine frame members is mounted a switch 242 of standard construction having an actuating arm' 244 provided with a roller 245. Movement of the arm 244 closes the contacts in the switch which control the circuit (not shown) which energizes the solenoid 220.

The apparatus for moving the switch arm 244 to close the switch at the desired instant is shown in detail in Figs. 15, 16 and 17. As may be seen 9 therefrom, and from Fig. 4, the handle is provided above its connection to shaft |06 with a slot 248 in which is mounted a short lever 249 rotating on a pin 250. One end of the lever 249 is adapted to engage the switch arm roller 245 and the other end is in the path of a striker 25|, which is mounted on a pivot 252 affixed to a block 254 fastened to an adjacent stationary frame member such as the block |02. The striker is urged toward the lever 249 by a spring 255 secured to a post 256 which is also fastenedto a frame member. Parallel to the slot 248 a pointed screw 258 is adjustably mounted in the handle |00 to engage the edge 259 of the striker. The screw 258 is so adjusted that, as the handle |00 is moved into the jaw closing position,`it will move the striker 25| to compress the spring 255, as shown in Fig; 15, and willallow the striker to slip past just as the jaws reach the fully closed position, at which point the striker strikes the lever 249, as shown in Fig. 17, moving it suddenly through a sufficient arc to actuate the switch 242, the lever and the switch arm moving from the dotted line to the full line position. To prevent over-travel of the striker 25| and to gradually decelerate it. a slider 260 is mounted on a stud 26| attached to the block 254. One end 262 of the slider is turned up into the path of the striker and the other end 264 is turned down and attached to a ,coil spring 265. the other end of the spring being fastened to the block 254. Thus, when the striker engages the end 282 of the slider, the spring 265 is extended and `counteracts the pressure of spring 255. as shown in Fig. 17, resiliently holding the striker in such a position that the screw 258 can slip by it on its return stroke and will reengage the edge 259 when the handle is again moved to jaw-closing position.

Summary of operation The operator'has three machine controls: (1)

the handle |00 at the top of the machine, (2) foot treadle 0| extending across the bottom of the machine, and (3) the release pedal |32.

The operator has two material handling operations: (l) the insertion of coil spring elements in the top of the machine between each pair of jaws 30 and 3| and (2) the insertion of pre-cut helical tie-wires between the driving rollers 20| and 205 at the end of the machine.

The series of operations performed by the operator, who stands at the side of the machine having` the foot treadle, and their sequence is as follows:

l. When the spring assembling operation is commenced, the handle |00 is away from the operator, the foot treadle is up and the jaws are wide open as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3. The operator inserts a row of springs S, pushing them down so that the top edges of their endcoils are between the open jaws.

2. The operator steps on the foot treadle |0| which partially closes the jaws, leaving them open just enough so that the end-coils in the next row of springs can snap into position between them.

3. The operator then inserts the second row of moves the driving rollers 205 into engagement with the tie-wires which are rotated and adhelicaltie-wires between the driving rollers 20| and 205.

5. He pulls the hand lever |00 toward him, which closes the jaws fully and operates the switch 242, energizing the solenoid circuit which vanced through the jaws into encircling engagement with the spring segments which` are clamped therein.

6. .The helical tie-wires automatically stop movirg when they have passed out of the rollers 20| and 205 and the operator then steps on the pedal |32 which allows the foot treadle to rise, opening the jaws and raising the hooks into engagement with the rst row of springs, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3. Y"The switch 242 is simultaneously opened, deenergizing solenoid 220.

7. The operator then pushes the foot treadle down, which advances the ro'w of springs a dis- .tance corresponding to the diameter of the end point where the upperportions of their end coils are in the jaws. He then inserts another row of springs, another pair of tie-wires, pulls the hand lever toward him and continues to repeat this cycle of operations until the vdesired number of rows of coils have been joined together.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details of the present preferred embodiment which has been herein described by way of illustration since numerous details may be Vchanged without departing from the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:l

l. A spring assembling machine for joining coil springs together by helical tie-wires comprising two sets of oppositely disposed pairs of jaws for positioning said coil springs in alinement, said pairs each consisting of a fixed jaw and a movable jaw, a pair of rotatable shafts for operating the movable jaws, means connecting said shafts for simultaneous rotation in opposite directions, a lever for actuating said means, driving mechanism for advancing said tie-wires through said jaws, a solenoid for actuating said mechanism, and switching means actuated by movement of said lever to jaw-closing position to energize said solenoid.

2. In a spring assembling machine. means for positioning the end coil of an upholstery coil spring for encirclement by a helical tie-wire comprising a fixed jaw, a rotatable shaft, a movable jaw xed on said shaft and adapted to close against said fixed jaw, means for rotating said shaft to open andl'close said jaws, said jaws being internally provided with a groove to receive said tie-wire and so shaped as to position a portion of 4said coil inside said groove when the jaws are closed.

3. In a spring assembling machine', means for positioning the end coils of two adjacent coil springs in a predetermined relationship for encirclement by a helical tie-wire comprising anxed jaw, a rotatable shaft, a movable jaw fixed on said shaft and adapted to close against saidxed jaw, means for rotating said shaft to open and close the jaws, said jaws having an internal con-7 figuration adapted to position said end coils in said relationship and a,groove adapted to receiveA and direct said tie-wire around the adjacent portions of said coils.

` 4. In a machine for assembling upholstery springs having substantially parallel end coils, in combination, downwardly extending oppositely disposed fixed jaw members having downwardly converging faces and jaws on their under sides, clamping jaws adapted to swing inwardly and upwardly toward the fixed jaws, rotatable shafts for supporting and moving said clamping jaws, means for rotating said shafts, said jaws having passages therethrough to permit the passage of helical tie-wires in encircling relation to end coils positioned in the jaws, and means for advancing said tie-wires through said passages.

5. A structure as defined in claim 4, wherein said fixed jaw members are so spaced as to compress said springs as they move downwardly over the converging faces whereby the expansion of the springs will force said -end coils outwardly into said jaws.

6. A structure as defined in claim 4. wherein said passages through the jaws are helical grooves corresponding in pitch to the helical tie-wire.

7. A structure as defined in claim 4, wherein said rotatable shafts pass through said fixed jaw members and form part of the support therefor.

8.v A structure as defined in claim 4, wherein said clamping jaws in opening are adapted to swing outwardly beyond the planes defined by end coils positioned in the fixed jaw members to permit the downward withdrawal of said springs.

9. A structure as defined in claim 4, wherein the entering edges of the jaws are cut away along arcuate lines so as to permit the entry of segments of either the `upper or lower` portions of end coils when the jaws are only slightly opened.

10.. In a spring assembling machine, means for positioning the end coils of two adjacent coil springs in an overlapping relationship for encirclement by a helical tie-wire comprising a fixed jaw, means for holding said jaw in position including a rotatable shaft, a movable jaw fixed to said shaft and adapted to close against said fixed jaw when said shaft is rotated in one direction and to swing out from under said fixed jaw when said shaft is rotated in the other direction, said jaws being formed so as to position adjacent segments of end coils in overlapping relationship when closed and having a helical groove to direct saidv tie-Wire around said overlapping segments.

11. Apparatus for connecting coil -springs by means of helical tie-wires comprising a supporting frame, two parallel fixed shafts mounted therein, xed jaws spaced along said shafts, two parallel rotatable shafts supported at a distance from and parallel to said fixed shafts, clamping jaws mounted on the rotatable shafts and adapted to be swung toward and against the fixed jaws by rotation of said rotatable shafts in one direction and away from the fixed jaws by rotation in the opposite direction, cranks on said rotatableshafts, an actuating member mounted for reciprocation substantially atright anglesto said rotatable shafts and having links operatively connected with said cranks whereby reciprocation of said member will rotate said rotatable shafts, and means for moving said actuating member.

12. Apparatus as described in claim 11, wherein said links are provided with elongated slots permitting some reciprocation of said member without moving the rotatable shafts.

13. Apparatus as described in claim 11,` wherein said rotatable shafts pass through bearings in said fixed jaws and serve to prevent rotation thereof about said fixed shafts.

14. Apparatus as described in claim 11, wherein said means for moving said actuating-member comprises a rack attached thereto, a pivoted lever, and a gear segment carried thereby meshing with said rack.

l5. Apparatus as described in claim 11, wherein said means formoving said actuating member comprises a pivoted treadle, a gear segment carried thereby, and a rack attached to said member. the maximum movement imparted to said clamping jaws by means of said treadle in a direction to close the jaws being so limited as to leave the jaws separated sufficiently to permit the entry of segments of said coil springs.

16. In a machine of the type described, for uniting coil spring end coil segments by means of `helical tie-wires, in combination, oppositely disposed pairs of spring positioning jaws, parallel rotatable shafts for opening and closing said jaws to successively secure rows of coil springs supplied thereto, reciprocating feeding means for advancing said rows of springs disposed substantially at right angles to said shafts, means for actuating said shafts and said feeding means in properly timed sequence comprising a reciprocating actuating member connected to said feeding means for moving it into engagement with said springs, cranks fixed on said shafts, links connecting said actuating member with said cranks and adapted to rotate said shafts to open said jaws as said yengagement is effected (upon movement of the feeding means in one direction) and to close said jaws (on movement in the lopposite being rotatable and fastened to the movable jaws,

two operating means for effecting rotation of the rotatable shafts to close the sets of jaws, one of said means being eifective to close the jaws only partially and the other of said r'neans being effective to close them completely.

18. Apparatus as described in claim 17, wherein the said means-for partially closing said jaws comprises a foot treadle, a reciprocating member operated thereby, and cranks secured to the rotatable shafts actuated by reciprocation of said member.

19. Apparatus as described in claim 17, wherein the said means for completely closing said jaws comprises members interconnecting said rotatable shafts whereby they rotate together in opposite directions, a hand-lever for actuating said members, and lost motion linkage incorporated in said means for partially moving the jaws to permit complete closure thereof.

20. In a spring assembling machine, in combination, a frame, horizontal shafts mounted therein, spring-clamping jaws supported on said shafts including fixed and movable jaws, the said shafts which support the movable jaws being rotatable and having cranks whereby they may be rotated,

, a flrst actuating member slidably mounted on said able shafts whereby they can be rotated beyond the position into which they are moved by said first actuating member.

21. In apparatus of the type described, in combination, a shaft, spring clamping jaw elements 13 f mounted thereon in spaced relation, means for positioning the end coils of coil springs in said jaws comprising supports mounted on said shaft between said jaw elements, spring guiding members pivotally mounted on said supports and adapted to engage the peripheries of said end coils, and means for adjusting the position of lsaid guiding members whereby the end coils may be centered in said J'aw elements.

22. In apparatus of the type described wherein the end coils of coil springs are positioned for joining in spring-clamping jaws, means for guiding said end coils into said jaws comprising a support, a pair of spring-directing members pivotally mounted on said support, studs carried by said members, a plate movable longitudinally of Said members and having diverging slots adapted to receive and position said studs, and securing means to hold said plate in position.

23. In apparatus of the type described wherein the end coils of coil springs are positioned for joining in spring-clamping jaws, means for guiding said end coils into said jaws comprising a support, a pair of spring-directing members pivotally mounted on said support, studs carried by said members, a plate movable longitudinally of said members and having diverging slots adapted to receive and position said studs, said members being slotted adjacent said studs, a rod extending through said slots, threaded elements mounted on said rod and extending through said plate, and a nut thereon adapted to draw said plate against said members. i

24. In a machine of the character described, spring positioning means comprising, afixed upper jaw having a downwardly sloping face and a bifurcated lower portion and at least two shaftreceiving apertures, one of said apertures passing through said lower portion, a swinging jaw rotatably positioned in said lower portion and having a shaft receiving aperture, and a shaft passing through both jaws freely rotatable in said fixed jaw and fixed to said swinging jaw, said jaws having an internal configuration adapted to position the springs as desired and to permit the passage of a helical tie-wire thereabout.

25. 'In a machine of the type described, spring clamping and positioning means comprising, a

fixed upper jaw having a, bifurcated lower portion through which is a shaft-receiving passage, means for supporting said jaw, a swinging jaw rotatably positioned between the legs of said bifurcated portion and having a shaft receiving aperture, and a. shaft rotatably mounted in said passage passing through said aperture and fixed to said swinging jaw, said jaws being adapted when closed to position a spring and guide a helical tie-wire about a segment thereof.

26. In a machine for assembling upholstery coil springs by means of helical tie-wires, in combination, means for positioning coil springs in alinement, driving means'for advancing and rotating helical tie-wires comprising fixed driving rollers and movable driving rollers, pivoted supports for said movable rollers, a solenoid having an armature, means connecting the armature with said pivoted supports to move the same, and switching means for energizing said solenoid.

2'7. In a machine of the type described, wherein two series of spring positioning jaws are mounted respectively on parallel shafts in yopposed relationship to grip opposite end coils of coil springs, means for adjusting the distance between one series of jaws and the other series comprising i'lxed frame members supporting the shafts on which .one series of jaws is mounted, slidable f rame members supporting the shafts on which the other series of jaws is mounted, and means for locking the slidable members in position.

28. In a machine of the type described having a pair of rotatable shafts, spring positioning jaws operated by said shafts and comprising jaws adapted to be opened and closed, a handle, means operatively connecting said handle with said shafts to rotate them on movement of the handle, switch tripping mechanism operative upon movement of said lever into a position to fully close said jaws comprising a lever pivoted on said handle, a pivoted striker, a spring urging said striker toward said lever, and a member carried by said handle and adapted to engage said striker to move it to compress its spring :and to release it as the handle reaches its jaw closing position.

SYDNEY FRANKEL. 

